Unamid cover-up ‘shocks’ Darfur rebel group

The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Minawi, is “shocked” by the results of the recent investigation into the Unamid, confirming the mission covered up crimes committed against civilians in Darfur. The movement has called for a review of the peacekeeping mission’s mandate and performance. In a statement released last week, the SLM-MM said it considers the results “disappointing”.  The review, initiated by the UN Secretary-General, investigated recent allegations that Unamid intentionally sought to cover up crimes against civilians and peacekeepers. The accusation was made by former Unamid spokeswoman Aicha Elbasri early in April this year. In five of the cases examined by a special review commission of the UN, the Mission did not provide UN Headquarters with full reports on the circumstances surrounding the incidents. The SLM-MM in its statement further called for a no-fly zone in the states of Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile. Darfur talks in Chad Leading members of the SLM-MM, the SLM led by Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said in a joint statement on Saturday that they met with the Chadian ministerial committee. Chad’s foreign minister, Musa Faki Mahamat, led the initiative.The meeting in Ndjamena discussed the “peace process in Sudan particularly in Darfur and the two sides emphasized the need to push forward the process”. The rebel groups were represented in the meeting by El Rayah Mahmoud (SLM-MM), Mohamed Mahmoud (SLM-AW) and Ahmed Tugud Lisan (JEM). File photo: SLA/M faction leader Minni Minawi (left) during a workshop on peace and security in Darfur held in Addis Ababa. (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: UN chief ‘deeply troubled’ by Darfur Mission’s silence (30 October 2014) Darfur rebel leaders urge Security Council to investigate Unamid and amend mandate (23 April 2014)

The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Minawi, is “shocked” by the results of the recent investigation into the Unamid, confirming the mission covered up crimes committed against civilians in Darfur. The movement has called for a review of the peacekeeping mission’s mandate and performance.

In a statement released last week, the SLM-MM said it considers the results “disappointing”.  The review, initiated by the UN Secretary-General, investigated recent allegations that Unamid intentionally sought to cover up crimes against civilians and peacekeepers. The accusation was made by former Unamid spokeswoman Aicha Elbasri early in April this year. In five of the cases examined by a special review commission of the UN, the Mission did not provide UN Headquarters with full reports on the circumstances surrounding the incidents.

The SLM-MM in its statement further called for a no-fly zone in the states of Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.

Darfur talks in Chad

Leading members of the SLM-MM, the SLM led by Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said in a joint statement on Saturday that they met with the Chadian ministerial committee. Chad’s foreign minister, Musa Faki Mahamat, led the initiative.

The meeting in Ndjamena discussed the “peace process in Sudan particularly in Darfur and the two sides emphasized the need to push forward the process”. The rebel groups were represented in the meeting by El Rayah Mahmoud (SLM-MM), Mohamed Mahmoud (SLM-AW) and Ahmed Tugud Lisan (JEM).

File photo: SLA/M faction leader Minni Minawi (left) during a workshop on peace and security in Darfur held in Addis Ababa. (Albert González Farran/Unamid)

Related:

UN chief ‘deeply troubled’ by Darfur Mission's silence (30 October 2014)

Darfur rebel leaders urge Security Council to investigate Unamid and amend mandate (23 April 2014)